Best in the minors: Choosing the Yankees' organizational all-stars

New York Yankees' Ben Gamel's glove sits at the top of the dugout fencing as Louis Torrens (98), Gamel (82) and the rest of the team stand during the playing of the national anthem before a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Fort Myers, Fla.(Photo11: Tony Gutierrez, AP)

The minor league season ends in early September and includes fewer off days than a big league season. Thus, the minor league season hits the mid-way point right about now. The Florida State League had its all-star break this weekend, and the South Atlantic League has its all-star break this weekend.

Today seems as good a time as any to take a look at the top performers in the Yankees’ minor league system. Here, then, are my picks for a Yankees organizational all-star team midway through the season. We’ll look at the system’s top pitchers later this afternoon.

CATCHER

Best in the system: Gary Sanchez
Missed a little more than two weeks with a broken thumb, but he’s still among the organizational leaders in most key offensive categories. He’s consistently hit for power all year, and after a slow April, he’s been hitting for average ever since a blistering start to the month of May. The fact he’s done this as a 23-year-old in the International League is impossible to overlook.

Apologies to: Kyle Higashioka
Probably the feel-good story of the entire system, Higashioka has long been a defensive standout, but this year he’s become one of the Yankees’ best minor league hitters at any position (his season OPS is actually higher than Sanchez’s). The fact Sanchez is three years younger at a higher level makes him stand out, but in terms of raw production, no one has been better than Higashioka.

Wait and see: Luis Torrens
Expected to open this season with Low-A Charleston, Torrens instead suffered a shoulder setback in spring training and just got his season started with short-season Staten Island on Friday. Torrens remains one of the more intriguing lower-level prospects in the organization, but he missed all of last year.

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FIRST BASE

Best in the system: Chris Gittens
During spring training, the Yankees seemed very eager to give Gittens at-bats in big league camp. It was somewhat unusual for a kid heading to Low-A to start the season, but the Yankees couldn’t stop raving about Gittens’ tremendous power potential, and he’s lived up to the hype with the organizational lead in home runs. He’s also gotten on base at an excellent clip, and his OPS has improved month-by-month.

Apologies to: Tyler Austin
Kind of like Austin Romine, Austin had been designated for assignment and left unclaimed last year. His Triple-A results had been so disappointing in 2015 that he was demoted to Double-A. This year, Austin has done the opposite, playing well enough to earn a promotion from Trenton to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he’s hit for average and power while playing first base, outfield and even one game at third base. Yankees will hope he can keep it up this time.

Wait and see: Dalton Blaser
Two of the Yankees’ top nine draft picks this season were college first basemen. Blaser made a terrific first impression by reaching base seven times in his pro debut on Friday. He’s been used as an outfielder, but played mostly first base in college. Still waiting for ninth-round first baseman Tim Lynch to make his debut.

SECOND BASE

Best in the system: Rob Refsnyder
Although he started moving all around the first this season, Refsnyder still seems to be a second baseman first and foremost (even if he’s currently filling in at first base). He had a bad month of April, but his month of May was overwhelming (.397/.426/.603) leading into a big league call-up that has so far stuck. The fact he’s proven capable of playing some other positions has only added to his value.

Apologies to: Billy Fleming
Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2014, Fleming has been tremendous throughout A ball, and that continued with his .875 OPS while playing first, second and third in Tampa this season. He was bumped up to Double-A in late May and his numbers have declined significantly since. Overall numbers are still very good, but still searching for it at the higher level.

Wait and see: Abiatal Avelino
In a crowded High-A infield, Avelino has gotten everyday at-bats by moving around, playing mostly second base and shortstop with some DH days sprinkled in. He turned 21 in February and has shown a good mix of tools with some speed and doubles power. Some promotions have made him a more prominent part of the Tampa lineup.

New York Yankees shortstop Jorge Mateo forces Boston Red Sox's Brock Holt (12) at second base and turns a double play on Boston's Travis Shaw during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Saturday, March 5, 2016, in Tampa, Fla.(Photo11: Chris O'Meara, AP)

SHORTSTOP

Best in the system: Jorge Mateo
Taking hold of the title of top prospect in the system, Mateo has been a dynamite performer with High-A Tampa this season. He’s slumped significantly the past two weeks, but his overall numbers are still very good for a 20-year-old at a premium position in the Florida State League. His power numbers are up, he leads the system in stolen bases, and he’s hit for average. He’s playing some second base for versatility, but he remains one of the top shortstop prospects in the game.

Apologies to: Tyler Wade
Overshadowed by Mateo, Wade has proven himself to be a strong middle infield prospect in his own right. The former fourth-round picks gets positive reviews for his defense, shows good speed, occasional power, and he’s consistently done a good job getting on base. Might get more attention in an organization without Mateo. As it is, he should be treated as more than a second fiddle.

Wait and see: Kyle Holder
Last year’s compensation draft pick drew some scoffs because of scouting reports that focused on his tremendous glove with a limited bat (shades of former top pick Cito Culver, who’s had trouble hitting throughout the minor leagues). Holder, though, has held his own at the plate. Not a good offensive season, but enough flashes to suggest he might hit enough for his tremendous glove to play at shortstop. Jury’s still out. A recent slump has diminished his overall numbers.

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THIRD BASE

Best in the system: Miguel Andujar
Had a strong second half in Tampa last year, but the Yankees sent Andujar back to the Florida State League to open this season and he delivered 10 home runs and 10 doubles before being promoted to Double-A earlier this month. The kid just turned 21 in March, so he’s still young for his level. Showed real improvement after a so-so month of April, and now he’s adding some star power to the Trenton infield. Tied for second in the organization in home runs..

Apologies to: Thairo Estrada
Hasn’t had a regular position this season, but he could begin to play a lot of third base now that Andujar is in Trenton. Estrada is still just 20 years old, but he was bumped up from Charleston to Tampa in late May and he’s been a solid across-the-board performer while playing second, third and shortstop. Granted, his numbers have lagged since the promotion.

Wait and see: Nelson Gomez
One of those high-dollar international amateurs signed in 2014, Gomez hit 11 home runs and slugged .435 with a .350 on-base percentage as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League last year. He could make his U.S. debut in rookie ball this season. Big power potential at third base. Another 2014 international signing, Dermis Garcia, is also an intriguing third base possibility for one of the rookie ball rosters.

New York Yankees' Dustin Fowler hits a double off Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Drew Hutchison during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)(Photo11: Chris O'Meara, AP)

LEFF FIELD

Best in the system: Jake Cave
Very difficult to predict what Cave might do this season. He failed to make the Reds roster as a Rule 5 pick, and he was coming off an underwhelming season in Double-A, but he remained a high-potential, upper-level prospect. Upon his return from Reds camp, the Yankees assigned him back to Double-A. He got hot right before a promotion to Triple-A, and he’s remained potent in his first extended opportunity at that level. Among the organization leaders in doubles and RBI, Cave is on track for the highest slugging percentage of his career by a large margin.

Apologies to: Zack Zehner
Last year’s 18th-round pick was kind of an afterthought when the season started, but he played his way into a more significant role by hitting .359/.461/.531 through the month of April. His production has declined since, but he’s still drawn enough walks to maintain a high on-base percentage.

Wait and see: Trey Amburgey
Been on the disabled list since late April, but before he went down with a hamstring injury, Amburgey picked up where he left off last season. The 13th-round draft pick had an .847 OPS with seven strikeouts through 17 games. Small sample, but it seems a little more meaningful after his strong half season in 2015. Still waiting for him to come back.

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CENTER FIELD

Best in the system: Dustin Fowler
One of the breakout prospects of last season, Fowler was given a fairly aggressive assignment to Double-A Trenton after splitting last season between Low-A and High-A. At 21 years old, he’s combined with Wade to give Trenton two young guys up the middle of the defense and at the top of the order. Fowler has been a bit streaky, but overall result is another good year with an OPS almost identical to last season. He hasn’t walked much, but he’s hit for good power and a good average while playing center field every day. Leads the system in hits and doubles.

Apologies to: Jeff Hendrix
Might not have factored into this conversation if not for an incredible stretch in late May and early June when – in just a few days – he raised his season on-base percentage from .321 to .375 and pushed his batting average from .207 to .270. Last year’s fourth-round pick is now on the disabled list, but he did enough right before being hurt to make himself stand out again.

Wait and see: Mason Williams
Last season put Williams back on the prospect radar, but he’s so far missed all of this season while rehabbing from last year’s shoulder surgery. Assuming he gets back, Williams will likely end up in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre jockeying for center field playing time in a crowded outfield.

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RIGHT FIELD

Best in the system: Ben Gamel
He hasn’t really played much right field this year, but Gamel has been one of the three best outfielders in the Yankees’ system, and this is where he fits. His season had been so-so until Gamel got absurdly hot near the end of May. Since then, he’s been as good as anyone in the system hitting for average, taking walks, stealing bases, getting extra-base hits. His on-base percentage is now even better than it was during last year’s standout season. Power his down from last year, but Gamel’s overall production has been excellent.

Apologies to: Aaron Judge
With sky-high expectations, Judge’s season is often seen as a disappointment, but he’s still tied for second in the organization in home runs and also ranks among the leaders in doubles, RBI and total bases. He seems to have found something recently, because his numbers have rebounded. Hasn’t been as good as hoped, but perhaps not as bad as it seems.

Wait and see: Cesar Puello
What to make of Puello’s season? His numbers are tremendous, but he’s also been something of a fourth outfielder with barely 100 at-bats. His slash line is undeniable, especially in terms of on-base percentage, and his .872 OPS is tremendous. His .429 BABIP seems unsustainable, but if he maintains this production, the Yankees might have to seriously consider whether to try to hold onto him as a long-term commodity.